Sounders, Whitecaps play scoreless draw in West semi-final

(Reuters) - Defending champions Seattle Sounders played out a goalless draw against host Vancouver Whitecaps in the first leg of the Western Conference semi-final of the Major League Soccer on Sunday.

Both teams took late shots at stealing an advantage but could not score in the evenly contested game at B.C. Place Stadium.

The Sounders came into the match slightly undermanned with striker Clint Dempsey serving an automatic suspension for his red card in the season finale.

Midfielder Victor Rodriguez was also a scratch as he misses time with a quad-muscle pull.

Still, Seattle aggressively sought out a score knowing that away goals are the first tie-breaker if the aggregate score is tied after the two-game series. Seattle’s Kendall Waston nearly put his team ahead as he took a cross from Nicolas Lodeiro but hit the crossbar.

Chad Marshall failed to direct his header past Whitecaps keeper Stefan Marinovic, two minutes into the second half.

Oct 29, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Vancouver Whitecaps and the Seattle Sounder scuffle during the second half at BC Place. Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports